News & Rankings

Fuquay-Varina - Wake County Municipality Highlight

With nearly 23,000 residents, Fuquay-Varina is one of Wake County’s fastest growing communities, and ranks first in population growth for North Carolina cities with 5,000 or more residents according to the 2013 census (2000-2013). The town’s economic outlook for the next few years is extremely encouraging. The volume of commercial and residential development already underway and expected development will forever change the landscape and perceptions for one of the Triangle’s fastest growing communities.

In addition to receiving high praise and accolades in development magazines and online rankings, Fuquay-Varina has strategically positioned itself and continues to be recognized for its assets and development opportunities among the public and private sectors. In August 2014, Standard & Poor's upgraded the town’s bond rating from AA to AAA, the highest rate available. Fuquay-Varina joins an exclusive and small list of 15 towns in the state of North Carolina to enjoy a Standard & Poor’s AAA bond rating.

In an effort to balance out Fuquay-Varina’s commercial and residential landscape while maintaining a viable local economy that creates economic opportunities and quality of place for its citizens, the town has adopted the Fuquay-Varina Economic Development Strategy2015 – 2025. The Strategy sets forth initiatives including: Commercial & Retail Development and Recruitment; Economic Development Policy Incentive & Toolkit Creation; In-Fill Development Downtown; Manufacturing Recruitment and Development; Marketing & Public Outreach; and Transportation, Infrastructure & Utility Investment Identification.

Fuquay-Varina prides itself on regional collaboration to achieve economic success. The BIG 4 Initiative, a public-private partnership between the town’s Economic Development Department and four of Fuquay-Varina’s largest manufacturers (Bob Barker Company, John Deere Turf Care, Southbend and TE Connectivity) have joined forces to capitalize on the latest trends in manufacturing and workforce development and recruitment.

Fuquay-Varina is fortunate to have a public-private entity, The Fuquay-Varina Economic Development Commission, that offers professional business and development guidance on matters vital to successfully grow its landscape. The FVEDC Board of Directors is composed of financial professionals, real estate professionals, Wake Technical Community College, Wake County Board of Commissioners, Wake County Economic Development and the BIG 4 corporations. The FVEDC works closely with the town and private sector development community, local academic and financial institutions to foster public & private relationships with commercial/residential developers to further grow our region and acquire the resources needed to promote economic development.

In October 2014, the FVEDC and the BIG 4 group joined thousands of manufacturers across the nation and participated in Manufacturing Day, a nation-wide event that showcased and toured Fuquay-Varina’s manufacturing and distribution facilities.

Additionally, the BIG 4 Initiative secured $45,000 in workforce training funds for two of its members and has forged strong relationships with Wake Tech Community College, NC State University’s Industrial Extension Services and Campbell University to enhanced Fuquay-Varina’s workforce.

The town had recent success recruiting the A-Safe, Inc., a UK-based, advanced manufacturing firm which makes fixed, polymer safety barriers used in warehouses, airports and distribution facilities around the world. All of the town’s proposed, under construction and completed projects can be seen on the Town’s website via its newly created Interactive Development Map.

Transportation is a key initiative for the Fuquay-Varina community. As the town experiences significant growth and expands its footprint, it is aggressively undertaking extensive traffic and transportation improvements to better the community’s roadways that meet the town’s development demands. Fuquay-Varina is not just focused on vehicular improvements but is actively pursuing improvements to pedestrian mobility and transit options, including a comprehensive Pedestrian Plan and partnering with Triangle Transit to provide Express Bus Service from Fuquay-Varina to downtown Raleigh.

Other recent accolades and accomplishments include:

In March 2014, NerdWallet ranked Fuquay-Varina as the third best place in North Carolina for homeownership with a homeownership rate of 74.6% and a median monthly home value or $192,700. Read the complete list.

In February 2015, NerdWallet ranked Fuquay-Varina in the top 20 "Best Cities for Young Families in North Carolina. Read the complete list.

According to the SafeWise Report release in April 2014, Fuquay-Varina ranks among the 50 Safest Cities in North Carolina. SafeWise, a community-focused security organization, compiled the report using the most recent FBI crime data from 2012 to analyze and rank North Carolina cities with a population of more than 5000 that report crime statistics to the FBI.

In 2006, Fuquay-Varina was designated a N.C. Main Street Community

Fuquay-Varina will see a considerable amount of public and private sector investment. The town puts great emphasis on the need to provide quality of live services and amenities to its residents having recently adopted an updated Facilities Master Plan that will include $7 Million of upgrades to existing parks and new amenities. Fuquay-Varina also plans to build a new $5 million Public Service Center that will house the Town’s Public Utilities and Works Departments.

Fuquay-Varina has a unique story to tell. Rich with history and looking to the future for significant growth, the Town of Fuquay-Varina is undertaking a marketing/branding campaign that will help the Town tell its story for the future generations of residents and businesses.

Notable Destinations:

Fuquay-Varina Mineral Spring Park

Walk two short blocks to the Fuquay Mineral Spring Park and drink the “healing waters” from the Fuquay Mineral Spring, for which the town gets the first part of its name. Continue through the Fuquay Historic District along tree-lined streets to gaze at several homes registered on the National Historic Register and as Wake County Landmarks.

Downtown Destinations

Make your way to the Varina Business District and discover our second downtown. Choose from a variety of cupcakes at the Cupcake Bite or dive in to homemade yogurt at Sweet Creations. Cap the afternoon off with live music and an award winning craft beer from Aviator Tap House or Draft Line Brewery. Stop by Homesteader’s Brew Supply and get information on the latest micro-brewing craze or visit The Meeting Corner to find hand crafts, vintage items and Cuban food! Head over to the Fuquay-Varina Growers Market, open on Wednesday afternoon and all day Saturday to take in the local flavor.

Work Hard, Play Hard

Visitors have their choice of 18 parks in Fuquay-Varina, with amenities ranging from walking trails to picnic shelters to tennis courts. Each park offers visitors something different. Catch a demonstration at the outdoor amphitheater in Carroll Howard Johnson Environmental Education Park, walk the Jeff Wells Memorial Trail or take a look back at the town’s origins at the Fuquay Mineral Spring Park, a beautiful place to picnic and rejuvenate your spirit. Families will enjoy visiting Falcon Park, Fuquay-Varina’s oldest park or taking-in a youth league baseball or soccer tournament hosted at one of the town’s numerous fields. Even Fido has a park! In 2013, the Town opened the Fuquay-Varina Downtown Dog Park.

Fuquay-Varina’s BIG 4; Manufacturing Core

For more information on investment opportunities and economic development matters, please contact Jim Seymour, Economic Development Director: